I-Team reviews Amsted Rail's safety record and history

GRANITE CITY, Ill. (KSDK) - Amsted Rail can trace its roots in Granite City back to 1877.

The international company employs more than 1,300 people and manufactures core components of freight cars like castings, bearings, axles, wheels and brakes.

In 2008, the company reduced its workforce 70 percent because of the recession, but has built back up in the years since.

Following Thursday's explosion, the I-Team reviewed OSHA records between 2008 and 2013. In that time period there were no violations at Amsted Rail's Granite City plant. There were eight violations at its locations in Virginia, four in Pennsylvania, and seven in Kansas.

The most serious violations included no enclosure for a mechanical power transmission apparatus. OSHA fined the company $2,000 but negotiated a settlement for $1,400.

OSHA also cited the company for its spray finishing using flammable and combustible materials and fined it $2,300.

Employees at the Granite City plant have filed suit against management trying to recover unpaid wages and overtime compensation.

The employees' attorney said the suit has nothing to do with what happened Thursday.

Last week, jurors ruled against the employees in two lawsuits. But another suit representing 176 employees is still in the court system.

A spokesperson for the company said officials are busy making sure employees and families are well cared for at this time and the company is cooperating fully with the OSHA investigation.